The Leapmotor T03 clearly illustrates the near-term divide in electric cars, writes Brian Byrne. There will be EVs suited for city driving and others designed for long-distance travel, and they won’t be the same. The biggest difference will be affordability.
What won’t be compromised is quality. China-based Leapmotor understands this, and the T03 doesn’t hold back in this regard. Every part of it meets today’s standards. Of course, at the price point, some features are missing.
The T03’s name isn’t memorable, nor is the car particularly attractive. Its style echoes some city models from the 1990s—think Nissan Micra or Citroën Saxo. But its cube shape maximises space for four passengers, as long as they’re not all as long-legged as I am. The bodywork is plain, with no outlandish design elements, making it easy to wash. There's a standard glass roof panel. The EV charge port is conveniently located at the front, reducing hassle at charging stations.
Inside, the car’s interior matches its tidy exterior. The dashboard is straightforward, with easily accessible air vents and a clearly visible emergency flasher button. However, this results in a lower-mounted infotainment screen that is angled but suffers from glare from the glass roof. The screen graphics are better than some Chinese rivals—clear and adequately sized. All climate controls are operated via the screen. A peculiarity is that the fan defaults to zero whenever the car is turned off. Which means things can begin to fog up until it’s manually turned on. The driver's instrument cluster is simple and displays essential information clearly.
The fabric seats are well-sized and comfortable, with front ones featuring correctly angled integrated head restraints. The rear seats are suitable only for two passengers, and the boot offers a modest 210 litres.
The T03's powertrain focuses on city affordability, with a small 36kWh battery and an electric motor capable of a 0-100km/h toddle of under 13 seconds. The official range is 265 km, but real-world figures are around 200 km. With city driving, it’s possible to exceed 300 km in mild weather. This is where the 'does it suit?' calculation needs to be made.
The T03 is NOT a car for long intercity journeys — I had a 400 km round trip planned, but decided against it when I realised charging stops would add more than an hour to the five hours plus I would already be driving. The absence of heated seats also affects winter usability, as heating consumes additional battery power. Conversely, it proved to be a very practical vehicle for my local trips during my time with it.
When I look back at the T03, it feels like two cars in one. On one hand, it represents affordability and a decent finish quality for an urban runabout—similar to many small combustion-engine vehicles. On the other hand, it has minor flaws such as screen glare, the lack of physical switches, and a range comparable to the 2012 Renault Zoe. The equaliser for buyers will be their driving needs. For most, the range may be acceptable, especially if they start each day with a full charge.
The choice is theirs.
PRICE: From €18,995. WHAT I LIKED: It suits the runabout role.
